Optimization of Integrated Energy Systems: analysis of models and solutions.

Integrated energy systems are an effective way to achieve sustainable energy development and build a low-carbon society. However, the combination of different units needs further investigation to determine the optimum configuration and operating strategy. To face this challenge, in this paper we present an integrated framework, where the energy operator owns different energy production conversion, and storage technologies to supply the different demand loads over a long planning horizon. The stakeholder decides on the capacity configuration and energy production of energy devices to design a reliable and cost-efficient energy system. Four different types of energy demand loads are considered: electricity load, thermal load (heating or cooling), and hydrogen load for charging fuel cell electric cars at charging stations. This study delves into a bi-level model where the upper-level (the leaders) aims to minimize the total incentive cost paid to the IES plus the CO2 cost while the lower-level minimize the cost of energy purchase, investment (only the part not supported by the policy maker), and the maintenance costs. The goal of this thesis is to find the optimal scheduling of different technologies and the optimal capacity installation (sizing) for the Electrolyzer, the Hydrogen Storage Tank and the Hydrogen Fuel Cell in order to minimize the annual cost expressed in terms of investment cost (the part non supported by the policy maker), operating and maintenance costs, and the costs for the energy purchase.